NFL Playoff Picture 2025, Scenarios, Standings and Bracket Predictions Before Week 17

The Denver Broncos need two victories to secure the No. 1 seed in the AFC.

One of those two needed wins is expected to come on Christmas Day against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Denver can lock up the AFC West title as early as Saturday if the Los Angeles Chargers lose to the Houston Texans.

Chargers-Texans is the most consequential AFC game of Week 17 because it will affect two divisional races and wild-card seeding.

The Chicago Bears-San Francisco 49ers clash on Sunday night carries a similar significance.

There will be mild NFC playoff drama on Christmas Day. The Detroit Lions need a win over the Minnesota Vikings to keep their bleak postseason hopes alive.

AFC Standings

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1 Denver Broncos (12-3; clinched playoff berth)

2. New England Patriots (12-3; clinched playoff berth)

3. Jacksonville Jaguars (11-4; clinched playoff berth)

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-6)

Three of the four AFC divisional titles could be wrapped up by the end of Week 17.

Denver needs to beat Kansas City and have the Chargers lose to the Texans on Saturday.

The Jacksonville Jaguars need the opposite result in Chargers-Texans as the Broncos. A Jags win combined with the Texans loss locked up the AFC South for Liam Coen's team.

The New England Patriots must beat the New York Jets and then have the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the Buffalo Bills to clinch the AFC East.

The scenario is much simpler for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the AFC North. They just need to beat the Cleveland Browns to secure their divisional title.

Wild-Card Race

5. Los Angeles Chargers (11-4; clinched playoff berth)

6. Buffalo Bills (11-4; clinched playoff berth)

7. Houston Texans (10-5)

The Texans either need to beat the Chargers, or have the Jaguars beat the Colts to confirm their spot in the postseason.

Houston isn't in terrible shape if it loses to the Chargers and the Colts win because it owns a two-game advantage on Indianapolis.

The Chargers and Bills are both locked into the postseason. Los Angeles needs to win out to land the AFC West, while Buffalo must win out and get help from either the Jets or Dolphins to drop New England to four losses.

In the Hunt

8. Indianapolis Colts (8-7)

9. Baltimore Ravens (7-8)

Indianapolis and Baltimore both require help to stay alive in the postseason hunt after Week 17.

The Colts must beat the Jags and have the Chargers beat the Texans to hold on to hope going into Week 18.

Baltimore must defeat the Green Bay Packers and get a Browns win over the Steelers to set up a Week 18 clash for the AFC North title with Pittsburgh.

Eliminated

10. Kansas City Chiefs (6-9)

11. Miami Dolphins (6-9)

12. Cincinnati Bengals (5-10)

13. New York Jets (3-12)

14. Tennessee Titans (3-12)

15. Cleveland Browns (3-12)

16. Las Vegas Raiders (2-13)

NFC Standings

AP Photo

Division Leaders

1 Seattle Seahawks (12-3; clinched playoff berth)

2. Chicago Bears (11-4; clinched playoff berth)

3. Philadelphia Eagles (10-5; clinched NFC East title)

4. Carolina Panthers (8-7)

The Chicago Bears have the clearer path to clinching their division title than the Seattle Seahawks in Week 17.

Chicago has to beat the 49ers and have the Packers fall to the Ravens to secure the NFC North.

Seattle needs to take down the Carolina Panthers on the road and then have the Bears beat the 49ers and Atlanta Falcons defeat the Los Angeles Rams to win the NFC West in Week 17.

Carolina needs a win against Seattle as bad as Seattle has to pick up a win against it. The Panthers could secure the NFC South with a win combined with a Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss to the Dolphins.

Wild-Card Race

5. San Francisco 49ers (11-4; clinched playoff berth)

6. Los Angeles Rams (11-4; clinched playoff berth)

7. Green Bay Packers (9-5-1)

Green Bay just needs to beat Baltimore at home on Saturday night to secure a playoff berth.

The Packers can also get into the postseason in Week 17 through a Lions loss on Christmas Day to the Minnesota Vikings.

The 49ers and Rams are both still alive for the NFC West title. Both of them already clinched playoff spots.

In the Hunt

8. Detroit Lions (8-7)

10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-8)

Detroit is in must-win mode on Christmas Day.

The Lions have to beat the Vikings and then must receive help from the Ravens in Green Bay to survive until Week 18.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are only able to get into the postseason through the NFC South title. They have to match Carolina's Week 17 result to make the Week 18 clash between them and Panthers matter for the NFC South crown.

Eliminated

9. Minnesota Vikings (7-8)

11. Dallas Cowboys (6-8-1)

12. Atlanta Falcons (6-9)

13. New Orleans Saints (5-10)

14. Washington Commanders (4-11)

15. Arizona Cardinals (3-12)

16. New York Giants (2-13)